In early 2023, we launched a cup recycling trial at Clapham Picturehouse. We wanted to find a way to ensure these were not landing up in landfill. This covered our hot drink cups a soft drink cups.
What happens to your single-use coffee cup?
If it is wax lined, like most hot and soft drink disposable cups are, it will go in landfill along with the other 1 billion cups a year in the UK alone.
Often people think these cups are just cardboard and therefore recyclable and put them straight into the recycling which can unfortunately lead to contaminating that whole load of recycling.
Are they recyclable?
Yes, they are recyclable but need their own special recycling process that removes the wax from the card so they can't be caught up with other recyclable stuff.
The same is true of compostable hot drink cups, they also cannot just be popped into the compost bin or the recycling. They need to go be collected separately and treated with an industrial composting process.
Messaging
We understand the messaging is very confusing around drink cup recycling and we are hoping to help change that by our very exciting Wax Cup Recycling Trial in Clapham Picturehouse.
With clear signage and explanations, we are hoping to help encourage our customers and staff to put their wax-lined hot and soft drinks in the brand new specially designed bin and have weekly special collections.
We are very happy to report the signage and the trial has been a success! Customers and staff are putting the right cups in the right bin and we are collecting enough cups for a weekly pick-up.
What next?
We aim to roll this out across the estate.
We understand and are committed to our role in fighting consumption habits for a more sustainable future. If you've seen anything that you'd like to improve in our cinemas, please get in touch at [email protected], we'd love to hear from you.
